1973 Race Recap
/media/3437024/ceil-iii-cyca-archives.jpg)
Ceil III, Overall Winner in 1973
Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race 1973
Race Program
Prior to each race Cruising Yacht Club of Australia publishes a separate official race program (with details of competing boats, the results of past races and articles about the race and its participants and other important events). The 1973 Edition is here.
Weather
The key to success in the 1973 Sydney to Hobart Race was to keep well to the east of the rhumbline and boats that did this had good breezes all the way. Generally, it was an easy race with running or fast reaching conditions throughout and the only gear-busting conditions came near the finish for the smaller yachts.
The race started in a light nor'easter, swinging to the north-west and increasing to 20 knots during the night then veering to the east and southeast on the second day.
Finally it backed again to the north on the third and fourth days with gusts of up to 50 knots, which hit the smaller boats with some severity, although none suffered serious damage. The fast reaching conditions enabled Helsal, Apollo and Siska all to better Ondine's previous best elapsed time.
Race reports
After each race, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's magazine Offshore contains reports and articles on the race. Read on to access them.